Student project: your opinion please

Hi, I think you are on the right track when it comes to being a student, but not really if you were designing for production.

- Trawlers may replace sailing boats, but I think it is more common to replace faster powerboats with long range boats when you get older and have the time.

- The evolution is of course always present, but there is no green revolution in sight. This is just a media thing, you will get attention but not many clients I am afraid.

- Personalization normally reduces the second hand value on production boats and is more common on 50 meter yachts than 50 footers.

I think you should design something that you like and like to have, not what you think other people should have..

It sounds like you have a keen eye on predicting future desirability of products with long development schedules. You may want to read some of Ray Kurzweil's works. As an inventor he attributes his success to accurately matching future product demand to predicted technology advances.

In your project, you see two trends, growth of trawler yachts and eco-friendly design. The question is will the demand for the two grow at a rate where they converge and will the enabling technologies advance to fill demand when (if) the two converge?

Sorry I couldn't answer your question, but Kurzweil came to mind when I read your post.

New Product Design

Gallardo,
First, most welcome to the forum and into such a discussion on yacht design trends. I for one love young blood entering this wonderful industry.
As far as propulsion, I must admit to being very curious about the new "pod" drive from ZF for single engine applications. The advertising claimed a 90 degree turning radius that can be synced to a bow thruster for some very interesting maneuvering potential.
But right there is perhaps the main concept for the future. Take people with little experience in boating and offer them capabilities never before possible. This means they can learn to handle the boat much easier and faster. My question would be about the rest of the experience. Switching from shore power to generators and back to shore power is routine for many, but not the new boater. Some parts of boating still have a steep learning curve.
So look at the whole experience, not just hull and propulsion. Make it easier for people to join in the fun.

I am in the middle of buying a trawler (18 year old 55 Fleming), I am coming from a background of smaller and mid size planing Motor Boats. I have recently retired at 55 and have more time and still have smaller fast boats, I am looking for efficency and more of a relaxed approach to boating.
I was a building contractor so am aware and embrace movement to sustainable strategies but they have to make economic sense and be reasonably user friendly.
I have generally bought new but this time I am buying a previously owned boat so there is limited opportunity for customization. That being said we will make the boat our own and because of it's timeless design that should not be too hard.
The idea of being a great space no matter where you are is a good one.
My ideal boat would be a motor sailer but my wife wants natural light/ability to view scenary and does not want the world "tipping" sensation with sailboats heeling. So the compromise is a slow stable boat.
I think you have some good concepts. The customer for your boat is your best resource. Some of the things that may be important to you may not be as important for people that can afford what you would like to design.

Gallardo,

I think in short term you might be on to something. Long term, well I wouldn't like to personally see myself in a trawler type vessel. I think trawler type vessel will evolve to something like Dashew Offshore type vessels... hopefully a little more foregving on the eyes (IMO).

Long term for propulsion, I have a feeling the IPS/Zeus will be like the CD/DVD. Great set forward, but a steping stone on to something great... who knows what this Hadron Collider will uncover. But those drive units will be good for the next decade + I feel.

Azimut Magellano 74 Hydropdynamically looks pretty poor, especially if it was caught in some bad weather, it's just an island hopper.... lucky they have a helm in the main cabin .

Interior work... just keep away from teak, or do something completely different with it. A lot of the trawlers of today are pretty standard, and don't appeal, or wouldn't really appeal to the younger generation coming through. As for the custom side of things, I would just leave colour options, and laminate options open too.... Unless your going 100% custom.
Check this work out by Lars, it's a great example of doing something different, fresh, and exciting in the interior.

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/yacht-renderings-plans/8308-lars-modin-design-iv-16.html

If you want to keep with "todays" type styling of trawlers, I think if you want to appeal to both young and old - for the olds keep everything pratical, and colours neutral. For the young, bold colours/styling, and some cool toys to play with.

Enjoy

Far